After another day of work I met up with Gaura and Rasa and we went to the Jivamukti Yoga studio together. After the weekend that we had I could only wonder what kind of crowd would be there to hear the kirtan that night. I often find myself thinking about how different people perceive kirtan as they listen. I know that when I hear kirtan it feels as though my very soul wants to dance and I think it’s interesting and wonderful to hear stories of how other people feel when they hear the kirtan as well. After the performance the last Friday at Astanga Yoga, I got a chance to talk to some of the attendees and we spoke a lot about how kirtan was such a wonderful tension breaker from a hard week of work. Some people said it made them feel freer, some said that it made their heart soar, and some still said that it just took them to a more peaceful place, but I was glad that kirtan could do all that and more for so many people.

After a minute to regroup with the As Kindred Spirits team and all of our friends who had come to see the performance that night, it was time to set up. I was surprised at how happy I was to see others that had come to previous kirtan nights at Jivamukti that night. There were hugs given all around and I know that when I looked deep down inside it was helpful to see familiar faces there because it cut down on some of the nervousness. Whenever you give some of your favorite thing to a group of people you always want them to like it at least half as much as you do. I haven’t seen very many people turn kirtan away but I’m always afraid of when that time happens.

After a quick set up, we began with the Damodarastakam, lovely, lilting and slow I felt myself relax into that place where only kirtan can place me. After going to work the whole day and then thinking about even doing this show, I felt like I was going to be tired for the next three or four days, but the minute the kirtan started all I could think was that I might be able to do this one kirtan for maybe the next three or four years. I thought about the meaning of the song and let the sweet images run through my head as I sang the song. Those who came were invited to go up and offer flower petals to pictures of Krsna that had been stationed on an altar made in back of us. One of the regular students of this bhakti class was there to perform a small arati and I felt like I was honored that they allowed us to be a part of this experience for them. Those who were singing along were given the words and I looked around as everyone intensely followed the song.

I found it amazing how these songs, which are hundreds of years old, can still bring peace and happiness to crowds of people today. These aren’t chants that we have made up now, but still, modern people, with modern problems can find solutions to their problems with these ancient chants. Kirtan is simply amazing. That song lead into a chant “Jaya Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayate” giving our respects first to the lord within our hearts, and then to those saints and those spiritual masters who came before us, without whom, we wouldn’t know about this process of loving god through music and song. Before I knew it everyone in the room was clapping and I looked around trying to see how the kirtan was affecting each person. Some people got up to dance and others just closed their eyes and rocked to the rhythm of the song but everyone was affected. I smiled in my heart knowing that this was touching people. From the previous spiritual masters that I have known, I’ve learned and always been taught that kirtan is the best welfare work, and I was seeing firsthand that night how it was true. To teach people how to love god through song can brighten their lives and they can take those songs with them and sing them anywhere, at any time. The dynamic John Kruth on flute was able to lighten up every tune and give just the right mood to everything we sang and I was glad to have him back with us again. The rumbling sounds of the bass accompanied the mrdanga as Shyam spread a little of his groove over us. I found myself beaming at everyone assembled and rocking in my seat as I watched others dancing, wishing I could join them in this celebration of all things divine.

The night ended with Ayodhya Vasi Rama, one of my very favorites. All too soon the kirtan was building, the room was filled with dancing souls and the entire structure was overflowing with the names of Rama. Once again we had a chance to speak with those who came to hear the kirtan once it was all done and all I could think was that….we had just been getting warmed up. I was glad that this was going to continue for the rest of the week, even knowing how tired I had felt before this show and it was only Tuesday. Apparently a person doesn’t need sleep and rest when Kirtan is involved. I was ready for the marathon and I was embracing the exhaustion.

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• 01 Gaura Vani – Damodarastakam (2979)
• 02 Gaura Vani – Guru Gauranga Jayate (2745)
• 03 Gaura Vani – Ayodya Vasi Ram (2943)